Big Batch Bean Soup Recipes

BIG-BATCH BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place the beans and ham bones in a large stockpot; add ham stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until the beans are tender. , Stir in the onions, carrots and pepper; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Combine flour and water until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Cook for 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. If too thick, add additional water.

BIG BATCH WHITE BEAN AND HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse white beans in a strainer under cool water, being sure to discard any discolored or damaged beans.
• Place rinsed beans in a large kettle with stock and ham bones; bring to a boil.
• Once boiling, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for two to three hours or until the beans are tender.
• While beans are simmering, prepare the onion and carrots.
• After two to three hours of simmering, stir the onion, carrots, and pepper into the beans. Cover and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
• Combine cold water and flour in a separate bowl until smooth and then gradually stir into soup until thickened.
• Cook for an additional 10 minutes. If the soup is too thick, add additional water until you've reached your desired consistency. Recipe Source: Jene Cain, Northridge, California. This recipe came to us from Jene Cain from Northridge, CA who obviously has some experience cooking for a crowd. Reprinted with permission.

BASIC BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the beans with the water, cover and let soak overnight.
• In a large pot over medium high heat, combine the soaked beans with water, carrots, onion and ham. Add more water to cover all, if necessary. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 4 to 6 hours. Add ketchup just to get desired color. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

BIG-BATCH BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the remaining ingredients., Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until beans reach desired thickness.

GRANDMA B'S BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place the beans in a slow cooker with enough water to cover, and soak 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
• Drain the beans, and return to the slow cooker. Cover with water, and mix in the carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and ham.
• Cover slow cooker, and cook soup on High for 3 1/2 hours. Switch to Low, and continue cooking at least 6 1/2 hours. The longer it cooks the more flavorful it becomes.

EVERYDAY VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions or leeks, celery, and Italian seasoning; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add broth, tomatoes and their juice, tomato paste, and 3 cups water to pot; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, 20 minutes.
• Add vegetables to pot, and return to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Let cool before storing.

SMALL BATCH DILL PESTO

Steps:

• Place dill fronds (a few stems are OK), walnuts, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes into the bowl of a food processor. If you have a mini or small food processor, it will be large enough for this recipe.
• Pulse until everything is minced well, scraping down the sides as necessary. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil, blending for a few seconds until smooth.
• If not serving immediately, store the pesto in an airtight container and chill until ready to use.

BIG-BATCH INSTANT POT WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Place beans, garlic, oil, salt, and rosemary (if using) in Instant Pot. Cover with 10 cups cold water. Seal lid and cook at high pressure 14 minutes.
• Release pressure manually. If some beans are still slightly undercooked, stir, cover, and use the Keep Warm function until cooked through.
• Do Ahead: Beans can be cooked 5 days ahead. Chill in cooking liquid in airtight containers, or freeze in cooking liquid up to 3 months.

BIG BATCH VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions or leeks, celery and Italian Seasoning; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, 5-8 minutes.
• Add broth, tomatoes and their juice, tomato paste, and 3 cups water to pot; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, 20 minutes.
• Add vegetables to pot, and return to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, 20-25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Let cool before storing.

BIG POT OF BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the beans, then soak them in salted water (it should taste like the sea) for anywhere from 4 hours to 12 hours. If you don't have time, you can skip this step.
• Drain beans and put them in a pot or electric pressure cooker. If cooking in a regular pot, add enough water to cover the beans by 2 to 3 inches. If using a pressure cooker, use less water, more like 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Add a drizzle of oil and whatever aromatics and herbs you like. Add enough salt to the cooking water to make it taste like the sea.
• If using a regular pot, simmer the beans for anywhere to 30 minutes to 2 to 3 hours, depending on what variety you used, how old they were and whether or not you soaked them. Check on them periodically, adding more water if the level gets too low (as in, lower than the beans). For the pressure cooker, the timing is anywhere from 5 minutes at high pressure to 50 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
• Garnish with fresh herbs or celery leaves, sliced onion, if you like, a drizzle of oil, and a sprinkle of red-pepper flakes and sea salt.

BIG-BATCH BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Place beans in a large heavy pot and cover with water by 2". Cover pot and bring to a boil over high heat, then remove from heat. Let sit 1 hour.
• Uncover and add more water if needed to cover by 2". Stir in onion, garlic, bay leaves, salt, oregano, and cumin. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Uncover, reduce heat to low, and simmer, checking after 1 1/2 hours and adding more water if needed to keep beans submerged, until beans are tender and creamy, 1 1/2-2 hours total.
• Serve beans immediately or let cool completely, then transfer beans and cooking liquid to airtight containers.
• Do Ahead: Beans can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill, or freeze up to 3 months.